SMOKING
SMOKING
SMOKING
HEALTH 8
To be passed on Monday
MARICEL I. HINADAC
Subject Teacher
Copy and answer BOX A if you are in the PASSIVE ZONE. On the other hand, copy and answer BOX B if you are in the
ACTIVE ZONE.
BOX A (PASSIVE ZONE)
1. My first step in standing up for my rights when I am in danger of being exposed to cigarette smoke is
___________________.
2. The last time I inhaled someone else‟s smoke, I became a passive smoker because _____________.
3. I will do the following steps to become more active about avoiding passive smoke: ____________________.
4. I know that the benefits of being active about avoiding smoke are _______.
1. I will help passive smokers who are afraid to stand up for their rights to speak up for themselves on the issue of
second hand smoke by ____________________.
3. The following are my ways of protecting my health from the dangers of smoke: ________________________ ___.
Each day in the United States, more than 1,300 people die because of cigarette smoking, and more than 300 kids
under age 18 become daily smokers.1 In an effort to bring the number of smokers in the U.S. down to zero, on
November 17, 2016, people across the country will join the Great American Smokeout: a movement
spearheaded by the American Cancer Society, in which people across the country pledge to make a plan to quit
smoking. But for many, quitting feels like an impossible task, and unfortunately, this may be by design.
We recently launched a new infographic, "How a Cigarette is Engineered," highlighting some of the reasons
quitting smoking can be difficult. It's not only because cigarettes contain the addictive chemical nicotine—
which keeps people smoking even when they don't want to be2—but also because the design and content of
cigarettes continue to make them addictive and attractive to consumers.
What exactly are you smoking when you smoke a cigarette? You inhale everything that is burned—the tobacco
filler, the paper–even the chemicals that form when the cigarette is lit. While that may be an unappealing
thought, the mix of more than 7,000 chemicals2 that smokers inhale in the smoking process is downright deadly.
Filter
Let's begin with the filter. Typically made from bundles of thin fibers, the filter is located at the holding end of
the cigarette and is meant to minimize the amount of smoke inhaled. The design of modern cigarette filters only
prevents a nominal portion of smoke from being inhaled.
Tipping Paper
Wrapped around the filter is the tipping paper, which contains small ventilation (vent) holes. The purpose of
vent holes is to allow fresh air in to mix with smoke, diluting the toxic mix of chemicals inhaled. Unfortunately,
vent holes are usually located where you would hold the cigarette, and often get blocked by your fingers or lips,
making them largely ineffective. They may also lead you to inhale more deeply, pulling dangerous chemicals
farther into your lungs.3
Below the filter and the tipping paper is the cigarette paper, which contains added chemicals to control how
quickly the cigarette burns.
Within the cigarette paper is the tobacco filler itself, which is comprised of chopped tobacco leaves, stems,
reprocessed pieces, and scraps. Dangerous chemicals can form in and be deposited on tobacco during
processing. What's more is that when the tobacco filler is burned, other hazardous chemicals are created and
breathed into your lungs.
Additives
Not only are chemicals created in the processing and the burning of tobacco filler, but manufacturers may also
add hundreds of ingredients to a cigarette to make smoking more appealing and mask the harsh flavor and
sensation of smoke. Flavor additives like menthol and sugar may be added to cigarettes to change the taste of
smoke and make it easier to inhale. These and other additives may make cigarette smoke more palatable, but no
less harmful. Cigarettes that are less harsh and easier to inhale may appeal to new smokers, especially
adolescents, because they are easier to smoke.4
Other chemicals may also be added to tobacco in an effort to optimize nicotine delivery and lung
absorption. Ammonia—a chemical found in cleaning products—and other additives may be added to cigarette
tobacco and may increase nicotine absorption, making cigarettes more addictive. Some additives are
bronchodilators that can open the lungs and increase the amount of dangerous chemicals that are absorbed.
A Cigarette
Given this information, it becomes clear that a cigarette is not just tobacco wrapped in paper. Its design and
content make it alluring and addictive. And when you inhale its smoke, you take in every part of the cigarette.
The process to quit smoking can be an arduous one, both physically and emotionally, and it may take you
several tries to reach success. Today, there are more former smokers than current smokers.5 If you are a smoker,
with support and resources, you too can one day say you are a former smoker.
What’s in a cigarette?
Tobacco smoke is both toxic and addictive. Find out more about the lethal chemical cocktail inside cigarettes.
Tobacco smoke contains around 7,000 chemicals. Many of these are poisonous and over 60 are known to be
cancer causing (carcinogenic). No wonder so many smokers would like help quitting.
The chemical constituents of cigarettes include:
Nicotine
Nicotine is a colourless, poisonous alkaloid derived from the tobacco plant. It is a powerful drug, which affects
the brain and quickly becomes addictive.
Tar
‘Tar’ is the term used to describe the toxic chemicals found in cigarettes. It’s a sticky brown substance that
forms when tobacco cools and condenses. It collects in the lungs and can cause cancer.
Carbon monoxide
An odourless, colourless gas that is released from burning tobacco. When it is inhaled it enters the blood stream
and interferes with the working of the heart and the blood vessels. Up to 15% of a smoker’s blood can be
carrying carbon monoxide instead of oxygen.
Arsenic
Arsenic-containing pesticides used in tobacco farming occur in small quantities in cigarette smoke. Arsenic is
commonly found in rat poison.
Ammonia
Ammonia is a toxic, colourless gas with a sharp odour. Ammonia compounds are commonly used in cleaning
products and fertilisers. Also used to boost the impact of nicotine in manufactured cigarettes.
Acetone
Fragrant volatile liquid ketone, used as a solvent. Nail polish remover is a solvent, for example.
Toluene
Toluene is a highly toxic chemical. Industrial uses include rubbers, oils, resins, adhesives, inks, detergents, dyes
and explosives.
Methylamine
Pesticides
A number of pesticides (toxic chemicals used to kill pests, usually insects) are present in cigarette smoke. These
pesticides find their way into cigarettes because they’re used on tobacco plants as they are growing.
Polonium – 210
What's In a Cigarette?
There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. When burned, they create more than 7,000 chemicals. At
least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous.
Many of these chemicals also are found in consumer products, but these products have warning labels. While
the public is warned about the danger of the poisons in these products, there is no such warning for the toxins in
tobacco smoke.
Here are a few of the chemicals in tobacco smoke and other places they are found: